Chelsea won't be as happy with a draw this season as they are tonight with their 1-1 at Anfield.

They found a way to get a result despite lacking fluency almost throughout, relying on a piece of inspiration from David Luiz to supply their goal.

Marks out of 10 for the players.

Thibaut Courtois 7: Sharp from the start to deny Wijnaldum and made the right decision on most crosses. Stranded for the goal.

Cesar Azpilicueta 6: Initial ball for the goal flew over his head and into his channel. Generally an active defender and positionally aware.

David Luiz 8: As dominant a defensive display as you’re likely to see, in the first half at least, capped by a freakishly good goal. Struggled after getting a knock in the 40 minute.

It's behind you: David Luiz of Chelsea scores

Gary Cahill 7: A typically gutsy and characterful performance after a very challenging period for the defender. One of the men that glue this team together.

Victor Moses 6: Milner’s pullback header for the goal took a nick off him and he was caught out of position on a few occasions. Had he shown more gumption, might have pounced on Matip’s ponderous defending and done better than hit the side netting.

N’Golo Kante 9: Kante’s midfield exactions are one of the wonders of the modern footballing world. Carried Chelsea through the second half and created chances late on with his ball winning.

Nemanja Matic 7: A steady display from the Serbian on the night his fellow countryman Ivanovic left the Bridge. Provides the structure that allows Kante to roam.

Lean: Marcos Alonso challenges Adam Lallana

Marcos Alonso 6: The wing-back wastes a good deal of possession and couldn’t lunge to stop Firmino’s great chance early in the second-half. A bit of this, a bit of that, as per usual.

Willian 7: Helped Conte execute his first-half strategy to near perfection. Tracked back when needed and his dribbles were some of Chelsea’s more threatening moments.

Diego Costa 5: Some of the runs Costa made, and some of those he didn’t make, showed a player a touch out of kilter with the thinking of his colleagues. Played the tormenter role like only he can for the penalty and several other soft fouls.

Eden Hazard 5: Made some incisive diagonal runs in the first half and bought the free-kick for Luiz, but he was some way off his breathtaking best.

Boot boy: Emre Can shows Willian his size 10s

Substitutes

Pedro 7: Came close twice late on with very presentable chances, created through his sharp movement and understanding of exactly how to execute a counter-punch. Anyone keeping him out of the team is doing very well indeed.

Cesc Fabregas 6: His role here was to try and find the million-dollar through ball to rip a defence apart. He almost supplied it were it not for Pedro's poor touch in the box.

The match...

Chelsea opened up a nine-point gap at the top of the Premier League with an enthralling 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield.

A point apiece was a fair result and one Blues will doubtless be happy with after David Luiz’s sensational free-kick was cancelled out by Georginio Wijnaldum’s close range header.

Chelsea had to absorb early pressure and Thibaut Courtois pulled out a good save to his left to deny Wijnaldum in the 11th minute.

On a breakaway midway through the half, Eden Hazard won an innocuous foul 25 yards out when he was barged in the back by Adam Lallana.

What followed was a moment of liquid audacity from Luiz.

Hands up: Jordan Henderson of Liverpool (L) tries to block Diego Costa

With Liverpool shaped to defend a Willian cross, the Brazilian took a long run-up- with his long, damp mane flapping in his wake - and sidefooted into the bottom left-hand corner.

Conte’s men were fairly comfortable up until half-time, although Luiz took a nasty knock. Willian’s low free-kick tested Simon Mignolet on its way through a sea of bodies.

The home side’s initial burst after the break drew a fine chance for Roberto Firmino who sliced over in acres of space, before Victor Moses nicked the ball high up the pitch and dragged his shot into the side netting without much conviction.

Klopp got the response he wanted in the 57th minute.

Puff: Adam Lallana (L) of Liverpool with Gary Cahill

When a ball was flighted in behind Chelsea’s back three, Milner stooped to head back across goal and it took a nick off Victor Moses before sitting up for Wijnaldum to nod in from five yards.

Moments after the Anfield crowd rose to greet Sadio Mané, Diego Costa bounded through space in the middle of the park, turned and went down under a light kick from Joel Matip.

With only the slightest hesitation, Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot. Costa stepped up only to see his poor penalty saved by Mignolet, down to his right to make the save.

Pedro, off the bench, came close twice in the closing stages; narrowly foiled when played through on goal by Fabregas and then curling wide of the right upright.